Tmsb4 as a Biomarker for IgA Nephropathy

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for diagnosis or prognosis of IgA nephropathy in a subject based on detection of the expression level of one or more biomarker genes selected from the group consisting of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4), serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitor clade E member 2 (Serpine2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN), butyrophilin-like-2 (BTNL2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), Cystatin C (CysC), and any combination thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/695,907, filed Jan. 28, 2010, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The preset invention relates to biomarkers for IgA nephropathy and applications thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

IgA nephropathy is the most frequent type of glomerular disorders worldwide, up to 60% of the patients eventually progressing to either end-stage renal disease or chronic renal failure after 20 years of follow-up. Although the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy is still largely unknown, an initial response of intrinsic glomerular cells to IgA immune complexes, including abnormal glycosylated IgA1 as “neoantigen”, plays a primary role, whereby triggering release of cytokines and growth factors in the glomerulus affected. To date, a renal biopsy is required for diagnosis and prognosis of IgA nephropathy, but many patients might be reluctant to accept the invasive procedure, which might cause not diagnosed or delayed diagnosed until the clinical features are outward or a disease progression has already developed. Unfortunately, renal biopsy also entails risk for serious bleeding complications, which is a major negative impact on the diagnosis and prognosis for patients with the glomerular disorder.

There is still a need for additional biomarkers useful for diagnosis and prognosis of IgA nephropathy, especially in a non-invasive way.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject, comprising analyzing a test sample obtained from the subject for the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4), serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitor clade E member 2 (Serpine2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN), butyrophilin-like-2 (BTNL2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), Cystatin C (CysC), and any combination thereof, wherein the expression level of the one or more genes in the test sample that is increased relative to the expression level of the one or more genes in a normal sample indicates that the subject is afflicted with IgA nephropathy.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for determining a prognosis in a patient afflicted with IgA nephropathy, comprising analyzing a test sample obtained from the subject for the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, CysC, and any combination thereof, wherein the expression level of the one or more genes in the test sample that is increased relative to the expression level of the one or more genes in a normal sample is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis.

The various embodiments of the present invention are described in details below. Other characteristics of the present invention will be clearly presented by the following detailed descriptions and drawings about the various embodiments and claims.

It is believed that a person of ordinary knowledge in the art where the present invention belongs can utilize the present invention to its broadest scope based on the descriptions herein with no need of further illustration. Therefore, the following descriptions should be understood as of demonstrative purpose instead of limitative in any way to the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the assessment of proteinuria and renal function of the Prg-IgAN model wherein (A) indicates the urine protein levels, (B) indicates the serum BUN levels, and (C) indicates the serum Cr levels. Each point represents the mean±SE. The dashed line indicates the mean of urine or serum samples from the normal control (day 0). *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 represent statistical significance compared to the normal control (day 0).

FIG. 2 shows the renal histopathology of the Prg-IgAN model wherein (A) to (D) indicate the progressive changes of glomerular proliferation (arrow), crescentic-like formation (arrowhead), sclerosis (double arrows), and periglomerular inflammation (curved arrow), respectively; and (E) to (G) indicate the scoring of these changes. The results were obtained by haematoxylin and eosin staining. Original magnification is ×400 each. *p<0.05 and **p<0.01 represent statistical significance compared to normal control (day 0).

FIG. 3 shows the quantitative analysis of mRNA levels of isolated glomeruli from the Prg-IgAN model by real-time RT-PCR in a time-course manner wherein (A) to (F) indicate the results for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC, respectively. Each point represents the mean±SE. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and ***p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to normal control (day 0).

FIG. 4 shows the renal in situ hybridization (ISH) results of the Prg-IgAN model in a time-course manner, wherein (A) represents the kidney sections from the normal control (day 0) and the IgAN model (day 3, day 14, and day 21) for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC. Positive cells were stained in deep brown. Arrows in (d), (h), (l), (p), (t), and (x) indicate epithelial cells in crescent-like formation of the glomerulus. Original magnification is ×400 each. Semi-quantitative analysis of cellular protein expression by IHC was showed in (B) to (G). The scoring was performed for the three major components: parietal epithelial cells (solid bars), podocytes (open bars) and mesangial cells (hatched bars). Each bar represents the mean±SE. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and ***p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to the normal control (day 0). The symbol “#” means data not detectable.

FIG. 5 shows the renal immunohistochemistry (IHC) results of the Prg-IgAN model in a time-course manner wherein (A) represents the kidney sections from the normal control (day 0) and the IgAN model (day 3, day 14, and day 21) for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, S100A8 and CysC. Positive cells were stained in red. Arrows in (d), (h), (l), (p), and (t) indicate epithelial cells in crescent-like formation of the glomerulus. Original magnification is ×400 each. Semi-quantitative analysis of cellular protein expression by IHC was showed in (B) to (F). The scoring was performed for the three major components: parietal epithelial cells (solid bars), podocytes (open bars) and mesangial cells (hatched bars). Each bar represents the mean±SE. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and ***p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to the normal control (day 0). The symbol “#” means data not detectable.

FIG. 6 shows the detection of urine levels of OPN, CysC and Serpine2 of the Prg-IgAN model in a time-course manner. (A) is the representative Western blots of the urine samples, probed with antibodies against OPN, CysC and Serpine2, respectively. Molecular weight markers are shown on the right. (B) is the quantitative analysis as represented by the ratio of the density to urinary creatinine. Each point represents the mean±SE (day 0).

FIG. 7 shows the renal terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis of the Prg-IgAN model in a time-course manner. (A) to (D) represent the kidney tissues on day 0, 3, 14, or 21 showing cell apoptosis. Original magnification is ×400 each. (E) represents the scoring of the apoptotic cells. **p<0.01 represents statistical significance compared to the normal control (day 0).

FIG. 8 shows the renal ISH results for the IgAN patients with unfavorable prognosis factors (UPF). (A) represents the results for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC. Arrows indicate parietal epithelial cells, and arrowheads indicate podocytes. Original magnification is ×400 each. (B) to (G) represent the semi-quantitative analysis of cellular mRNA expression. The scoring was performed for the three major components: parietal epithelial cells (solid bars), podocytes (open bars) and mesangial cells (hatched bars). Each bar represents the mean±SE. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 and **p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to normal control. The symbol “#” means data not detectable.

FIG. 9 shows the renal IHC results for IgAN patients with UPF. (A) represents the results for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC. Arrows indicate parietal epithelial cells, and arrowheads indicate podocytes. Original magnification is ×400 each. (B) to (F) represent the semi-quantitative analysis of cellular protein expression. The scoring was performed for the three major components: parietal epithelial cells (solid bars), podocytes (open bars) and mesangial cells (hatched bars). Each bar represents the mean±SE. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, and **p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to normal control. The symbol “#” means data not detectable.

FIG. 10 shows the detection of urine levels of Serpine2, OPN, CysC, and Tmsb4 for samples from normal subjects and IgAN patients with UPF. (A) indicates representative Western blots of the urine samples, probed with antibodies against OPN, CysC and Serpine2, respectively; (B), (C) and (D) indicate quantitative analysis for Serpine2, OPN and CysC, respectively, shown as the ratio of the density to urinary Cr; and (E) shows the ELISA results for Tmsb4. *p<0.05 and ***p<0.005 represent statistical significance compared to normal control. The symbol “#” means data not detectable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to reference to “a sample” includes a plurality of such samples and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art.

DEFINITION

The terms “nucleic acid fragment,” “nucleic acid” and “polynucleotide,” used interchangeably herein, refer to a polymer composed of nucleotide units, including naturally occurring nucleic acids, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (“DNA”) and ribonucleic acid (“RNA”) as well as nucleic acid analogs including those which have non-naturally occurring nucleotides. Thus, these terms include, but are not limited to, single-, double-, or multi-stranded DNA or RNA, genomic DNA, cDNA, mRNA, DNA-RNA hybrids, or a polymer comprising purine and pyrimidine bases or other natural, chemically or biochemically modified, non-natural, or derivatized nucleotide bases. It will be understood that when a nucleic acid fragment is represented by a DNA sequence (i.e., A, T, G, C), this also includes an RNA sequence (i.e., A, U, G, C) in which “U” replaces “T.”

The term “primer” as used herein refers to a specific oligonucleotide sequence which is complementary to a target nucleotide sequence and used to hybridize to the target nucleotide sequence. A primer serves as an initiation point for nucleotide polymerization catalyzed by either DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase or reverse transcriptase. For example, primers for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC, as used herein, respectively, are those which are capable to hybridize to the nucleotide sequence of the individual target genes to initiate nucleotide polymerization and produce the nucleotide products as expected based on the design of the sequences of the primers.

The term “probe” as used herein refers to a defined nucleic acid segment (or nucleotide analog segment, e.g., polynucleotide as defined herein) which can be used to identify a specific polynucleotide sequence present in samples during hybridization, said nucleic acid segment comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary of the specific polynucleotide sequence to be identified. Typically, a probe can produce a detectable signal since it is labeled in some way, for example, by incorporation of a reporter molecule such as a fluorophore or radionuclide. For example, probes for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC, as used herein, respectively, are those which are capable to specifically hybridize to the corresponding nucleotide sequence of the individual target genes and produce detectable signals caused by such hybridization.

The term “hybridization” as used herein shall include any process by which a strand of nucleic acid joins with a complementary strand through base pairing. Relevant technologies are well known in the art and described in, for example, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989), and Frederick M. A. et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2001). Typically, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5 to 30° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specified sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. More typically, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5 to 15° C. lower than the T_(m) for the specified sequence at a defined ionic strength and pH. For example, stringent hybridization conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.0 M sodium (or other salts) ion, typically about 0.01 to about 1 M sodium ion concentration at about pH 7.0 to about pH 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 25° C. for short probes (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotides) and at least about 55° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides). An exemplary non-stringent or low stringency condition for a long probe (e.g., greater than 50 nucleotides) would comprise a buffer of 20 mM Tris, pH 8.5, 50 mM KCl, and 2 mM MgCl₂, and a reaction temperature of 25° C.

The term “encode” as used herein refers to the inherent property of specific sequences of nucleotides in a polynucleotide (e.g., a gene, a cDNA, or an mRNA) to serve as templates for synthesis of a gene product having either a defined sequence of nucleotides (i.e., rRNA, tRNA and mRNA) or a defined sequence of amino acids and the biological properties resulting therefrom.

The term “expression” as used herein refers to the realization of genetic information encoded in a gene to produce a gene product such as an unspliced RNA, an mRNA, a splice variant mRNA, a polypeptide or protein, a post-translationally modified polypeptide, a splice variant polypeptide and so on.

The term “expression level” refers to the amount of a gene product expressed by a particular gene in cells which can be determined by any suitable method known in the art.

The terms “polypeptide” and “protein,” used interchangeably herein, refer to a polymeric form of amino acids of any length, which can include coded and non-coded amino acids, chemically or biochemically modified or derivatized amino acids, and polypeptides having modified peptide backbones.

The term “antibody” means an immunoglobulin protein which is capable of binding an antigen. Antibody as used herein is meant to include the entire antibody as well as any antibody fragments (e.g., F(ab′).sub.2, Fab', Fab, Fv) capable of binding the epitope, antigen, or antigenic fragment of interest. Antibodies of the invention are immunoreactive or immunospecific for and therefore specifically and selectively bind to a protein of interest, e.g., Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC of humans. Antibodies for the proteins of interest are preferably immunospecific, i.e., not substantially cross-reactive with related materials, although they may recognize their homologs across species. The term “antibody” encompasses all types of antibodies (e.g., monoclonal and polyclonal).

The terms “subject,” “individual” and “patient,” used interchangeably herein and refer to any mammalian subject for whom diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, or therapy is desired, particularly humans. Other subjects may include cattle, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, mice, horses, and so on.

“Diagnosis” as used herein generally includes determination as to whether a subject is likely affected by a given disease, disorder or dysfunction. The skilled artisan often makes a diagnosis on the basis of one or more diagnostic indicators, i.e., a marker, the presence, absence, or amount of which is indicative of the presence or absence of the disease, disorder or dysfunction.

“Prognosis” as used herein generally refers to a prediction of the probable course and outcome of a clinical condition or disease. A prognosis of a patient is usually made by evaluating factors or symptoms of a disease that are indicative of a favorable or unfavorable course or outcome of the disease. It is understood that the term “prognosis” does not necessarily refer to the ability to predict the course or outcome of a condition with 100% accuracy. Instead, the skilled artisan will understand that the term “prognosis” refers to an increased probability that a certain course or outcome will occur; that is, that a course or outcome is more likely to occur in a patient exhibiting a given condition, when compared to those individuals not exhibiting the condition. Prognosis can be expressed in various ways; for example prognosis can be expressed as a percent chance that a patient will progress to end-stage renal disease or chronic renal failure after one year, five years, ten years or the like.

The terms “favorable prognosis” and “positive prognosis,” or “unfavorable prognosis” and “negative prognosis” as used herein are relative terms for the prediction of the probable course and/or likely outcome of a condition or a disease. In general, a favorable or positive prognosis predicts a better outcome for a condition than an unfavorable or negative prognosis. Typical examples of a favorable or positive prognosis includes a better than average cure rate and a lower propensity for progression into end-stage renal disease or chronic renal failure. On the other hand, typical examples of an unfavorable or negative prognosis includes a worse than average cure rate, a higher propensity for progression into end-stage renal disease or chronic renal failure, and the like. For example, if a prognosis is that a patient has a 50% probability of progressing into end-stage renal disease or chronic renal failure within one year, while the average patient with the same disease has only a 25% probability of such progression, then that patient exhibits a negative prognosis.

Methods of the Invention

The present invention features novel biomarkers for IgA nephropathy, identified by a glomerulus-based approach, including thymosin β4 (Tmsb4), serine or cysteine proteinase inhibitor clade E member 2 (Serpine2), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (OPN), butyrophilin-like-2 (BTNL2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8) and Cystatin C (CysC). According to the invention, these biomarkers are highly associated with the unfavorable progression of IgA nephropathy and therefore are useful for diagnosing and predicting unfavorable progression of the glomerular disease. In addition, since the biomarkers of the invention are identified by a glomerulus-based approach as described below, it is believed that they are more reliable for diagnosis and prognosis of IgA nephropathy than renal histopathology-based prediction as currently used in the art.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method for diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject, comprising analyzing a test sample obtained from the subject for the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, CysC, and any combination thereof, wherein the expression level of the one or more genes in the test sample that is increased relative to the expression level of the one or more genes in a normal sample indicates that the subject is afflicted with IgA nephropathy.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for determining a prognosis in a patient afflicted with IgA nephropathy, comprising analyzing a test sample obtained from the subject for the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, CysC, and any combination thereof, wherein the expression level of the one or more genes in the test sample that is increased relative to the expression level of the one or more genes in a normal sample is indicative of an unfavorable prognosis.

As used herein, IgA nephropathy refers to a kidney disease characterized by IgA1 deposits within the kidney. The most common histopathologic alteration associated with IgAN is focal or diffuse expansion of mesangial regions with proliferative cells and extracellular matrix. In addition, a wide variety of lesions identified by light microscopy may be seen in patients with more severe lesions, including diffuse endocapillary proliferation, segmental sclerosis, segmental necrosis, and cellular crescent formation. Different prognosis is found in patients with IgA nephropathy. Several factors have been confirmed to highly correlated with an unfavorable prognosis of IgA nephropathy including hematuria, proteinuria, moderate hypercellularity, glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial inflammation, and a diffuse glomerular co-deposition of IgG and/or IgM as well as complement components 3 (C3).

Tmsb4 is a member of the thymosin family and one of the main actin sequestering proteins, which is known to involve in several biological functions such as inducing angiogenesis, promoting wound healing, and facilitating cell migration. Serpine2, also known as plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 or protease nexin I, is an extracellular serine proteinase inhibitor, which can regulate matrix accumulation and coagulation under pathophysiologic conditions. OPN is a glycosylated phosphoprotein which has been reported to augment natural killer T cell activation, trigger neutrophil infiltration in inflammatory liver diseases, and increase monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 or macrophage inflammatory protein-1β production through the NF-kB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. S100A8 belongs to a member of the S100 family of the elongation factor (EF) hand calcium-binding proteins; in inflammatory states, expression of S100A8 is co-upregulated with S100A9 by neutrophils, activated monocytes, and macrophages which act as a chemotactic molecule. BTNL2 has been reported as the first butyrophilin family member that possesses an immunoregulatory function, which inhibits T cell proliferation and regulates T cell activation and tolerance.

The nucleotide sequences of the biomarker genes as described above and the corresponding amino acid sequences of their gene products are well known in the art. For example, the cDNA sequences of human Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC are SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, respectively, and their corresponding amino acid sequences are SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, respectively.

A test sample as used herein includes a variety of sample types obtained from a subject to be diagnosed or prognosed such as a biopsy specimen or tissue cultures or cells derived therefrom. In particular, the test sample is a renal tissue. In one embodiment, the test sample includes a glomerular tissue which may be obtained by any known method in this art e.g. a sieving technique as described in Nephrol Dial Transplant 2006; 21: 1794-1802.

A “normal” sample as used herein refers to a variety of sample types such as tissues or cells that are not diseased as defined herein. The term “normal” refers to a state of a cell or tissue in which the cell or tissue that is apparently free of an adverse biological condition when compared to a diseased cell or tissue having that adverse biological condition. For example, a normal sample is tissues or cells obtained from a normal subject (e.g. an individual known to not have IgA nephropathy or a condition or symptom associated with such disease) or taken from an unaffected area of a patient with a disease as defined herein.

In a particular embodiment, the methods of the invention are conducted by analyzing a test sample obtained from a subject in need for the expression level of one or more genes selected from the group consisting of Tmsb4, Serpine 2, OPN, CysC and any combination thereof. Specifically, the test sample can be obtained in a non-invasive way. More specifically, the test sample is urine.

It is understood that the expression level of the one or more genes as described herein in a sample can be determined by any suitable method known in the art.

In one embodiment, the expression level of the one or more genes is determined by measuring mRNA levels of the one or more genes. Assays based on the use of primers or probes that specifically recognize the nucleotide sequences of the genes as described may be used for the measurement, which include but are not limited to reverse transferase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH), the procedures of which are well known in the art.

Primers or probes can readily be designed and synthesized by one of skill in the art based on the nucleic acid region of interest. It will be appreciated that suitable primers or probes to be used in the invention can be designed using any suitable method in view of the nucleotide sequences of the genes of interest as disclosed in the art. Specific examples of the primers or probes as used in the present invention are given below.

In another embodiment, the expression level of the one or more genes is determined by measuring polypeptide levels of the one or more genes. Assays based on the use of antibodies that specifically recognize the proteins or polypeptides encoded by these genes as described may be used for the measurement, which include but are not limited to immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the procedures of which are well known in the art.

Antibodies as used herein may be polyclonal or monoclonal. Polyclonal antibodies directed against a particular protein are prepared by injection of a suitable laboratory animal with an effective amount of the peptide or antigenic component, collecting serum from the animal, and isolating specific sera by any of the known immunoabsorbent techniques. Animals which can readily be used for producing polyclonal antibodies as used in the invention include chickens, mice, rabbits, rats, goats, horses and the like.

In general, the use of monoclonal antibodies in the detection assays of the present invention is preferred because large quantities of antibodies and similar reactivity may be produced. The preparation of hybridoma cell lines for monoclonal antibody production is done by fusing an immortal cell line and the antibody producing lymphocytes. This can be done by techniques which are well known to those who are skilled in the art.

The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments, which are provided for the purpose of demonstration rather than limitation.

Example 1 Establishment of a Prg-IgAN Animal Model and the Clinical and Pathological Evaluation Thereof

Prg-IgAN was induced in B-cell-deficient (BCD) mice by daily injection of purified IgA anti-phosphorylcholine and pneumococcal C-polysaccharide (PnC) as described previously (Kidney Int 2006; 70: 283-297). To confirm the establishment of the IgAN animal model, clinical and pathological evaluation was conducted as below.

Urine and blood samples were collected from the mice at different time points, which were analyzed for proteinuria and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) levels by using a urease assay and a picric acid method respectively (Nephron 1998; 78: 440-452). BCD mice treated with saline only were used as normal controls.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a significant increase of Cr-corrected urine protein levels (0.48±0.07) was observed in the Prg-IgAN mice at day 14 compared with basal levels (0.08±0.02) (p<0.01), and the protein levels remained a range of high levels until day 21 when the animals were sacrificed. BUN levels were significantly elevated on day 14 (72.45±14.13 mg/dl compared with basal levels of 25.90±2.34 mg/dl in normal controls; p<0.01), showing persistently high levels until day 21 when the mice were sacrificed. Similarly, Cr levels were significantly increased on day 14 compared with basal levels (0.27±0.02 mg/dl vs. 0.12±0.03 mg/dl; p<0.05), and maintained high levels until the mice were sacrificed (FIGS. 1B and C).

In addition, mice were sacrificed at different time points for pathological evaluation as described previously (Kidney Int 2006; 70: 283-297). Briefly, renal tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin for routine histopathologic evaluation. Sections of the formalin-fixed renal tissue were immersed in xylene to remove paraffin, rehydrated in graded ethanol, stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Scoring of the severity of renal lesions was performed subsequently in which the proportion (percentage) was calculated for the following four major components: (1) proliferation in the glomerular tuft, (2) crescentic-like formation, (3) glomerular sclerosis, and (4) periglomerular inflammation, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, as early as day 3 after the induction of disease, the BCD mice that received the administration of IgA and PnC developed diffuse mesangial cell proliferation, which then progressed into crescent-like formation and sclerosis by day 21 compared with normal controls. In addition to the glomerular lesions, various tubulointerstitial changes were also observed at this point, including tubulointerstitial (especially periglomerular) inflammation, tubular atrophy with proteinaceous casts and occasional erythrocyte casts in the tubules, compared with normal controls.

Example 2 Gene Expression Profiling

To characterize the profile of altered gene expressions in the glomeruli of the Prg-IgAN model, a combined laser capture microdissection (LCM) and cDNA microassay analysis was conducted. Briefly, LCM was performed to obtain glomerular sections from normal controls and the Prg-IgAN mice at day 21 according to the protocols as previously described (Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2007; 5: 18; and Methods Mol Biol 2009; 466: 73-82). For each sample, approximately 150 glomeruli were harvested from at least three consecutive sections. Subsequently, cDNA microarray analysis was performed as described previously (Nephrol Dial Transplant 2006; 21: 288-298). In total, 8,500 mouse gene spots were screened for the Prg-IgAN model at day 21 versus normal controls.

As a result, totally 918 up-regulation genes (Prg-IgAN at day 21/normal control ratio≧2) in the glomerulus were identified. Highly expressed genes of interest with the ratio≧10 (totally 39 genes), including Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8 and CysC, in the Prg-IgAN model mainly based on the potential correlation between their known biological activities and inflammatory processes were chosen for further verification. These six genes have not been reported elsewhere so far on IgAN for subsequent confirmatory analyses.

Example 3 mRNA Expression of Candidate Genes

To determine whether these upregulated genes in the glomerulus were associated with the progression of IgAN, a time-course (days 0, 3, 14, and 21) mRNA expression analysis by RT-PCR was followed in isolated glomeruli from the Prg-IgAN model. The glomeruli samples of the Prg-IgAN mice were isolated with a sieving technique as described previously (Nephrol Dial Transplant 2006; 21: 1794-1802), and then subjected to total RNA extraction with Trizol reagent (Life Technologies, MD, USA) according to the manufacturer's instruction. Subsequently, real-time RT-PCR was conducted based on the RNA samples with gene-specific primers as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Primer sequences used for real-time  RT-PCR in animal samples Gene (mouse) Primer sequences BTNL2 5′-CTCTGGGCCAGGAGAAAAC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 13 5′-TGAGCCTCTCATCAGAAGGAA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 14 CysC 5′-TACAACAAGGGCAGCAACGA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 15 5′-GCACCCTTCTGCGAGATGAA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 16 GAPDH 5′-TCCGCCCCTTCTGCCGATG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 17 5′-CACGGAAGGCCATGCCAGTGA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 18 OPN 5′-CTCGTGCAGGAAGAACAGAAGC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 19 5′-GAGTCAAGTCAGCTGGATGAACC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 20 S100A8 5′-CCCGTCTTCAAGACATCGTTTG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 21 5′-ATATCCAGGGACCCAGCCCTAG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 22 Serpine 2 5′-ATGCCTGGGATGCTGGATGC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 23 5′-AACCTCTCCTGCCACACTGA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 24 Tmsb4 5′-CAGATCAGACTCTCCTCGTT-3′ SEQ ID NO: 25 5′-TCTCTGCTAGCCAGACCATC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 26

FIG. 3 shows the quantitative results of RT-PCR with normalization to GAPDH. As shown in the results, there was a significantly increased mRNA expression of these genes in the glomeruli of the Prg-IgAN model at day 3 (S100A8, 5.82±0.91-fold, p<0.05), day 14 (Tmsb4, 29.94±7.94-fold, p<0.01; Serpine2, 7.21±1.69-fold, p<0.05; OPN, 33.61±6.77-fold, p<0.005; BTNL2, 9.21±2.78-fold, p<0.05; S100A8, 24.58±6.82-fold, p<0.01; CysC, 8.05±3.35-fold, p<0.05), and at day 21 (Tmsb4, 40.07±5.23-fold, p<0.005; Serpine2, 11.59±2.11-fold, p<0.01; OPN, 29.41±4.03-fold, p<0.005; BTNL2, 28.33±4.67-fold, p<0.005; S100A8, 20.21±3.35-fold, p<0.005; CysC, 26.22±4.55-fold, p<0.005) compared to normal controls.

Example 4 Cellular Localization of RNA or Encoded Proteins of the Candidate Genes in the Kidney

For assessing the cellular source of the expression of the particular genes in renal tissues from the Prg-IgAN mice, ISH and IHC were performed in a time-course manner.

1. ISH

For ISH, cDNA probes for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC were generated in mouse kidney by RT-PCR with primers as set forth in Table 1 and then labeled with digoxigenin. The sequences of the cDNA probes as prepared are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Probe sequences for ISH in animal samples Gene (mouse) Probe sequences BTNL2 5′-ATCTGAGCCTCTCATCAGAAGGAAGTCGCCGCCTGTGGTTTTCGTCATTCTTGTTAT TTTCCTGATTGCTGCTGTGTGTITGTTCATTGGTCCGCCGCCACCGTTTCACCTTGATC AGGTCGATAGCCATGGCCAGAGGCAGCACCACAACAGGCAGGGTCATCCATAGCAA AGCTATCTTGGAGTCTGAGAGAGGGAAACGGGCTGTTTTCTCCTGGCCCAG-3 (SEQ ID NO: 27) CysC 5′-GCACCCTTCTGCGAGATGAAACACTATAGGGAAGGAGCACAAGTAAGGAACAGTCT GCATGATCCTTCTAGACTCAGCCCTTAGGCATTTTTGCAGCTGAATTTTGTCAGGGAGT GTGTGCCTTTCCAGGGCACGCTGTAGATCTGGAAGGAGCAGAGTGCCTTCCTCATCAGA TGGGGCTGGTCATGGAAAGGACAGTCAGTCAAATTTGTCTGGGACTTGGTACATGTAGT TCGGCCCATCTCCACATCCAAAAAATAGTTCACTCCAGCCACGAGCTGCTTACGAGCTC TCACCACCTGTATGGCGCGGCTGTGGTACGCATCGTTGCTGCCCTTGTTGTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 28) OPN 5′-CAGAAGCTTTTGGTTACAACGGTGTTTGCATGAAACAACAGACTAAGCTAAGAGCCCAAA ATATTACCTCTCTTTCTCTACATACATATATCCACTGAACTGAGAAATGAGCAGTTAGTATTC CTGCTTAACCCTCACTAACACTTTTTCTTGTTTTTACTAAATGCAAAGTAAGGAACTGTGTTTT TGCCTCTTCTTTAGTTGACCTCAGAAGATGAACTCTCTAATTCATGAGAAATTCGGAATTTCA GATACCTATCATCTTCCTTACTCTTAGGGTCTAGGACTAGCTTGTCCTTGTGGCTGTGAAACTT GTGGCTCTGATGTTCCAGGCTGGCTTTGGAACTTGCTTGACTATCGATCACATCCGACTGATC GGCACTCTCCTGGCTCTCTTTGGAATGCTCAAGTCTGTGTGTTTCCAGACTTGGTTCATCCAG CTGACTTGACTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 29) S100A8 5′-ATATCCAGGGACCCAGCCCTAGGCCAGAAGCTCTGCTACTCCTTGTGGCTGTCTTTGTGA GATGCCACACCCACTTTTATCACCATCGCAAGGAACTCCTCGAAGTTAATTGCATTGTCAC TATTGATGTCCAATTCTCTGAACAAGTTTTCGATATTTATATTCTGCACAAACTGAGGACA CTCAGTAGTGACCATTTTCTTGAAGTCATTCTTGTAGAGGGCATGGTGATTTCCTTGTATA TTGGAATAATTGTGGTAGACATCAATGAGGTTGCTCAAGGCCTTCTCCAGTTCAGACGGC ATTGTCACGAAAGATTTCCTTTCAAACGATGTCTTGAAGACGGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 30) Serpine 2 5′-AACCTCTCCTGCCACACTGATTAATCCTCTCCTGGAAAGTCACACATATCAACAGGAATG AAACAAAGATGCTGAACTTGACAGACAGCAAATACTCGAGAGGGTTGTTAACCTAGATAA CTGATCAGTAGTTTAAAGAAATCTTCTAGACATCGTGAAACCGGCCTGCTCATCCTTCACT ACAGCATCCCAGGCATCCAGCATCCCAGGCAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 31) Tmsb4 5′-TCTCTGCTAGCCAGACCATCAGATGGGTGGGAGAGGCAGGGGAGGCCTTCCTGCTCAGTA GTTCTGATTCTTTGATGTGAAAGGGGCAGCACAGTCATTTAAACTTGATCCAACCTCTTTGCA TCTTACAAAGTTAAACAGCTAAAAGAAGTAAAATAAGAAGGCAATGCTCGTGGAATGTACA GTGCATATTGGCGGCGCTCGCCTCATTACGATTCGCCAGCTTGCTTCTCTTGTTCAATTGTTTC TTTTGAAGGCAGAGGATTTTTCTCTTGCGTTTCTGTTTTCTTCAACTTCGACTTATCGAATTTCT CGATCTCAGCCATATCGGGTTTGTCAGACATGGTTGCTGGAAGGAGCCGAGCGAGCTGCGCG AACGAGGAGAGTCTGATCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 32)

Renal tissues were obtained from Prg-IgAN mice and then subjected to ISH with the aforementioned probes according to the protocols as described previously (J Biol Chem 2006; 281: 1066-1072).

As shown in FIG. 4A, time-dependent enhancement in mRNA expression levels were observed for all the Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC mainly in the glomerulus of the Prg-IgAN model although some renal tubules were found to have expressed these genes as well. Of note, at day 21, when glomerular crescent-like formation or sclerosis became outward, the Prg-IgAN mice were found to have the most extensive and intensive mRNA expression of all these genes, compared with those of earlier stages of the Prg-IgAN mice and normal controls (FIG. 4B-G). Besides, enhanced mRNA expression of BTNL2 and S100A8 was also identified in inflammatory cells infiltrating around glomerulus of the Prg-IgAN mice, as demonstrated by ISH (FIG. 4A, p and t).

2. IHC

Paraffin-embedded sections of the Prg-IgAN mice was obtained as described previously (J Am Soc Nephrol 2007; 18: 1777-1788), and then subjected to IHC with specific antibodies including anti-Tmsb4, anti-Serpine2, anti-S100A8 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA), anti-mouse OPN (Assay Designs Inc., MI, USA), anti-human OPN (Lab Vision Corp., CA, USA), anti-CysC (Upstate, NY, USA).

As shown in FIG. 5, the pattern of expression of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, S100A8, and CysC proteins (FIG. 5) was generally similar to that of ISH as described above. There was no specific antibody available for BTNL2 at present. Renal tubular epithelial cells showed CysC protein in a particular pattern that suggests reabsorption of the protein instead of the production of the protein.

Example 5 Increased Protein Levels of Candidate Genes in Urine Samples of Animals

Next, we wanted to identify whether these Prg-IgAN model-associated proteins were excreted in urine. Urine samples were collected from the Prg-IgAN mice at different time points and protein levels of individual proteins of interest in the urine samples were detected by Western blot analysis or ELISA as described previously (Nephrol Dial Transplant 2006; 21: 288-298; BJU Int 2009). Data were presented as the ratio of the density of each target protein to the Cr concentration of urine as described previously.

As shown in FIG. 6, OPN (1356.47±181.32 vs. 0), CysC (1164.82±268.61 vs. 367.83±73.47), and Serpine2 (1149.35±102.34 vs. 0) proteins were all detectable and significantly increased in urine samples of the Prg-IgAN model at day 21 compared with normal controls (each p<0.005), as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. Among them, urine protein levels of Serpine2 were detectable as early as day 7 and were significantly elevated in a time-dependent manner in the Prg-IgAN model, suggesting that Serpine 2 may serve as an early biomarker associated with the development and/or progression of IgAN in a non-invasive approach. There was no detectable urine S100A8 protein in the Prg-IgAN mice or normal controls. No specific antibody was available for the detection of urine Tmsb4 in mice at the present time.

Example 6 Upregulated Expression of Candidate Genes Potentially Involved in Enhancement of Apoptosis in Animals

We further performed TUNEL in a time-dependent manner to characterize the Prg-IgAN model. Paraffin-embedded sections were stained with an ApopTag Plus Peroxidase in Situ Apoptosis Detection kit (Chemicon, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The number of apoptotic cells in the glomerulus was counted by calculating positive cells per glomerular cross-section as described previously.

As shown in FIG. 7, quantitative analysis of cell death revealed that glomeruli contained one or more apoptotic nuclei at day 3 (2.40±0.38 cells/gcs), the number of apoptotic nuclei gradually increasing throughout the course of the Prg-IgAN model, and then abruptly increasing at day 21 when the mice were sacrificed, compared to normal control mice (11.52±2.31 cells/gcs vs. 0, p<0.01).

Example 7 Enhanced Expression of Candidate Genes in Renal Tissues Obtained from IgAN Patients with Unfavorable Factors (UPF)

1. Patient Population

Totally seven IgAN patients with UPF as defined previously (Kidney Int 2007; 71: 343-348) were recruited in the study to verify the expression of the potential biomarker candidates obtained by using the Prg-IgAN model in mice as described above. In addition to both hematuria and proteinuria, renal biopsies of these patients showed moderate hypercellularity, glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial inflammation, and a diffuse glomerular co-deposition of IgG and/or IgM as well as C3. These patients were followed at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, and all the patients who contributed samples signed their informed consent forms according to the regulations by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Renal tissues and urine samples from the patients were obtained at the time of diagnosis. Renal tissues taken from the unaffected pole of kidneys removed for renal cell carcinoma were used a normal controls. Normal urine samples were collected from apparently healthy volunteers.

2. Gene Expression Assessed by ISH

cDNA for Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, and CysC were generated in human renal biopsy individually by RT-PCR with primers as set forth in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Primer sequences for real-time  RT-PCR in human samples Gene (human) Primer sequences BTNL2 5′-GAGGTGACTGAGATGCAGATGG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 33 5′-GGAGGGCTGGATGTTGTGTA-3′ SEQ ID NO: 34 CysC 5′-CCAGCAACGACATGTACCAC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 35 5′-ACAGGTGGATTTCGACAAGG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 36 OPN 5′-ACAGCCAGGACTCCATTGAC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 37 5′-ACACTATCACCTCGGCCATC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 38 S100A8 5′-ATGCCGTCTACAGGGATGAC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 39 5′-ACGCCCATCTTTATCACCAG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 40 Serpine 2 5′-CTTTGAGGATCCAGCCTCTG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 41 5′-TGCGTTTCTTTGTGTTCTCG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 42 Tmsb4 5′-ATTCCACAAGCATTGCCTTC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 43 5′-ACCCCACTTCTTCCTTCACC-3′ SEQ ID NO: 44

These cDNAs fragments as produced were then labeled with digoxigenin as probes for ISH, the sequences of which are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Probe sequences for ISH in human samples Gene (human) Probe sequences BTNL2 5′-GGAGGGCTGGATGTTGTGTATCTTCAGTGCCACATTTCCCTTTGCAATGCCATTCT CTATCCACTCTACCCAGCCTCTGTACTCCTCCATCTGCATCTCAGTCACCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 45) CysC 5′-ACAGGTGGATTTCGACAAGGTCATTGTGCCCTGCCAAGGCACAGCGTAGATCTGGAA AGAGCAGAATGCTTTCCTTTTCAGATGTGGCTGGICATGGAAGGGGCAGTTGTCCAAGT TGGGCTGGGTCTTGGTACACGTGGTTCGGCCCAGCTCCACGTCCAAGAAGTAGTTCAC CCCAGCTACGATCTGCTTGCGGGCGCGCACCACCTGCAGCGCGCGGCTGTGGTACAT GTCGTTGCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 46) OPN 5′-CACACTATCACCTCGGCCATCATATGTGTCTACTGTGGGGACAACTGGAGTGAAAACT TCGGTTGCTGGCAGGTCCGTGGGAAAATCAGTGACCAGTTCATCAGATTCATCAGAATG GTGAGACTCATCAGACTGGTGAGAATCATCAGTGTCATCTACATCATCAGAGTCGTTCG AGTCAATGGAGTCCTGGCTGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 47) S100A8 5′-CACGCCCATCTTTATCACCAGAATGAGGAACTCCTGGAAGTTAACTGCACCATCAGTGT TGATATCCAACTCTTTGAACCAGACGTCTGCACCCTTTTTCCTGATATACTGAGGACACTC GGTCTCTAGCAATTTCTTCAGGTCATCCCTGTAGACGGCAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 48) Serpine 5′-TGCCACGAAAGTGCGTTTCTTTGTGTTCTCGGGTTGGAACCGTGATTTCCACAGACCCTT 2 GAAATACACTGCGTTGACGAGGACCAGTCTGGTGAGCACACCATCAATAAGATCTGGGGA CAGCAGATTGTCAATCATATCCCTGGTTTCATTTtTAACCCATGCATTGATGGAATCACAGG CAGAGGCTGGATCCTCAAAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 49) Tmsb4 5′-CACCCCACTTCTTCCTTCACCAACATGCAAGTTCTTTCCTTCCCTGCCAGCCAGATAGATA GACAGATGGGAAAGGCAGGCGCGGCCTTCGTTGTCAGTAGTTCTTTGATGTGAAAGGGGCA GCACAGTCATTTAAACTTGATCCAACCTCTTTGCATCTTACAAAGTTAAACAGCTAAAAGAA GTAAAATAAGAAGGCAATGCTTGTGGAAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 50)

Renal tissues were obtained from the patients as above-described and subjected to ISH with the aforementioned probes according to the protocols as described previously. FIG. 8 shows the ISH results for the patients.

3. Gene Expression Assessed by IHC

Similar to Example 4, paraffin-embedded sections from the patients were obtained and subjected to IHC with specific antibodies including anti-Tmsb4, anti-Serpine2, anti-S100A8 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CA, USA), anti-mouse OPN (Assay Designs Inc., MI, USA), anti-human OPN (Lab Vision Corp., CA, USA), anti-CysC (Upstate, NY, USA). FIG. 9 shows the IHC results for the patients.

4. Gene Expression Assessed by Western Blot or ELISA

To determine whether these proteins can serve as biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis and prognostic prediction of the patients, we further detected urine protein levels in patients using Western blot analysis or ELISA. Urine samples obtained from healthy volunteers served as normal control. As shown in FIG. 10(A), (B) and (C), urinary protein levels of Serpine2 (525.87±58.68 vs. 0, p<0.005), OPN (1748.35±215.99 vs. 0, p<0.005), and CysC (1297.86±371.65 vs. 25.66±22.34, p<0.05) were significantly increased in the patients compared to the normal controls, as demonstrated by Western blot analysis. By ELISA, urinary levels of Tmsb4 of the IgAN patients with UPF were also significantly increased compared to those of normal controls (0.154±0.024 vs. 0.027±0.006, p<0.005) (see FIG. 10(D)). There were no detectable levels of S100A8 in urine from the patients.

The aforementioned results of the gene expression assessed by ISH, IHC, western blot and ELISA are summarized in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Summary of cellular location and urine levels of candidate genes in the IgAN patients with UPF Cellular localization Urine levels ISH IHC Western blot analysis Normal IgAN Normal IgAN or ELISA PEC P MC PEC P MC PEC P MC PEC P MC Normal IgAN Tmsb4 trace + + +++*** +++** ++*  — + trace +++*** +++** ++*  trace +*** Serpine2 trace trace trace +++**  ++** ++** trace trace — +** +* +** — +*** OPN — trace + +++*** ++*  ++** trace trace trace +++**  ++* ++** — +*** BTNL2 trace trace trace +++**  +* ++** ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND S100A8 trace — trace +++**  +* ++*  trace trace trace ++** +  ++** — — CysC — trace + +++*** +++** ++*  trace trace + +++*** +++** +++** trace +*  PEC: parietal epithelial cells; P: podocytes; MC: mesangial cells; ND: not detected; (—) defined as not detectable; the total intensity score of ISH and IHC staining from 0-20, 20-50, 50-100, and >100 was defined as trace, (+), (++), and (+++). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.005, compared to normal control.

As summarized in Table 5, the major site of mRNA expression of the biomarker genes as described and their-encoded proteins in the IgAN patients with UPF was podocytes and parietal epithelial cells in the glomerulus compared to normal controls, although mRNA expression of OPN was also observed in some renal tubules adjacent to the glomerulus. Besides, mRNA expression of BTNL2 in the patients was also observed in inflammatory cells infiltrating around glomerulus as demonstrated by ISH staining. Further, increased urine protein levels of Tmsb4, OPN, cysC and Serpine 2 were detected in these patients, suggesting that these proteins may be used in non-invasive tests for diagnosis or prognosis of the glomerular disorder.

In conclusion, we applied LCM-isolated glomerular sections from renal tissues of a Prg-IgAN model to perform a transcriptional profiling of glomeruli in the animal model. Further, in both the animal model and IgAN patients with UPF, we demonstrated enhanced glomerular expression of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, BTNL2, S100A8, CysC and their encoded proteins. Specifically and importantly, we proved enhanced urinary protein expression of Tmsb4, Serpine2, OPN, and CysC in IgAN patients with UPF, which is helpful in developing diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for IgAN in a non-invasive approach (in urine samples). 

1. A method for diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject, comprising analyzing urine from the subject for the expression level of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4) polypeptide, wherein the expression level of Tmsb4 polypeptide in said urine from said subject that is increased relative to the expression level of Tmsb4 polypeptide in urine from a control indicates that the subject is afflicted with IgA nephropathy.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the urine is obtained in a non-invasive way.
 3. A method for diagnosing IgA nephropathy in a subject, comprising analyzing urine or renal tissue from the subject for the expression level of thymosin β4 (Tmsb4) gene, wherein the expression level of Tmsb4 gene in said urine or renal tissue from said subject that is increased relative to the expression level of Tmsb4 gene in urine or renal tissue from a control indicates that the subject is afflicted with IgA nephropathy and wherein the expression level is determined by measuring an mRNA level of Tmsb4.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mRNA levels are measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or in situ hybridization (ISH).
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the expression level of the Tmsb4 polypeptide is measured by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 